On the third of December, our bishop presided at the Eucharist in the Community of Vuelta Grande, Antigua Guatemala, Sacatpéquez. There were two reasons for the visit:  the installation of four communion ministers who had been prepared during the year, and the installation of the permanent presence of the Most Holy Sacrament in the church. The ceremony was full of faith and gratitude. The community began as a family community three years ago. Since then, it has succeeded in building a church and now has more than 80 members. An event took place in the community in October with the seminarians who completed their Bachillerato (high-school degree), and since then another three families have joined the community.

Above:  The prayer of the four brothers who were installed as communion ministers. Brother Cristóbal, second from the right is the one who began the community and is now its coordinator.

 

 

 

 

 

Left:  The communion.

On Friday, December 4, our bishop visited the Communities of Tzununá and Jaibalito in Santa Cruz La Laguna, Sololá.

The Community of Tzununá has gone through some difficult times; nevertheless, it is clearly in a state of growth. One sign of its wellbeing is that during the bishop’s visit two children were baptized.

The Community of Jaibalito, after having gone through a crisis, is in a phase of restructuring and growth. The brothers and sisters are trying to respond  faithfully to the call of the Lord.

Above: The baptisms in Tzununá.

 

 

 

 

 

Right: Administering the Sacrament of Reconciliation in Jaibalito.

The Community of Pentecostés in Santiago, Atitlán, is experiencing a time of growth. On Saturday the bishop was there and celebrated two baptisms. Now the community is preparing to develop a pastoral project for the year 2010, which will include ideas on improving its missionary action and its internal organization.

This time the visit to the Community of Xolbé, a village in the jurisdiction of the departmental capital of Sololá,  did not take place in the small church but in the home of brother Pedro. It was a thanksgiving for having completed eight years of a religious program that is broadcast by the radio station, “Voice of Atitlán.” There were many brothers and sisters present and the ceremony was broadcast on the radio.

During the afternoon Monsignor Eduardo paid his monthly visit to the Communities of Chuitzanchaj and Pajomel. These communities, located in the municipality of Santa Cruz La Laguna, are dynamic and continuing to grow.

Above:  In Chuitzanchaj, the ministry coordinated by brother Lucas. The enthusiasm and the dedication of brother Lucas have been essential for the community’s growth.

 

 

Right: The brothers and sisters of the Community of Pajomel are approaching the front to receive communion.

Mountaineering is an especially important aspect of our bishop’s spirituality. The prayers practiced during the entire ascent, the liturgy of the hours and then the celebration of the Eucharist—all done within the frame of the majestic and impressive beauty of nature and in a contemplative attitude—made the space one of spiritual deepening and the time one of discernment and an opportunity to intercede for the whole Church.

 

On Sunday the sixth, accompanied by seminarian Gliserio Raxón, Monsignor Eduardo climbed the Yepocapa peak and the Acatenango volcano.

 

Left: A view of the El Fuego volcano erupting majestically, seen from the summit of Acatenango.

On Tuesday, the eighth, on the Solemnity of Holy Mary, Full of Grace—the Solemnity of the Conception, as it is called in popular piety—our bishop made his visit to the Community of Xenimaquim, which is part of the Parish of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Comalapa. The occasion was the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Congregation “Virgin of the Conception.” The faithful were prepared with great care. The quantity of young people that are participating with dedication and commitment in the life of the community is especially notable.

Above:  Greeting those arriving at the temple before beginning the celebration of the Eucharist.

 

 

 

Left:  Confession of sins, part of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

During the afternoon of the ninth Monsignor Eduardo visited the Community of the Efusión del Espiritú Santo in Santiago Atitlán.

This community now has more than 800 members. It is being persecuted badly by those who oppose the renewing of the Church. Nevertheless, the faithful are firm in their faith and witness. And, as in the early church, every day the Lord adds new members to the community.

On the tenth and eleventh, our bishop made a pastoral visit to the Communities of La Democracia and La Libertad, Huehuetenango.

This area is preeminently a coffee growing zone and although there are large fincas in the area, which produce some of the best coffee in Guatemala, the great majority of brothers and sisters have their small parcels of coffee-producing land in which, farming with great care, they obtain results that give them means of daily sustenance.

Above:  One of the coffee plantations, located between the Pan American Highway, at the height known as El Boquerón (about 20 kilometers from la Mesilla, at the Mexican border) and the Community of La Esperanza, which is in the jurisdiction of Unión Cantinil.

 

 

Right:  Celebration of the Eucharist in the Community Building of the la Esperanza Community, Unión Cantinil.

During the afternoon of the tenth, Monsignor Eduardo visited the Community of La Nueva Esperanza, in the municipality of La Democracia. The brothers and sisters were very excited and promised to continue moving  forward in the missionary action and evangelizing that the Lord has entrusted to them.

On the eleventh, Monsignor Eduardo visited three communities in the Municipality of La Libertad.

The first celebration was in Sisilar, a community at the peak of the mountains that surround the Community of Santo Domingo, where the second Eucharist was celebrated. Finally there was a celebration in La Mesilla.

Above:  Monsignor Eduardo, accompanied by Brother Juan, leader of the communities of La Libertad, and by seminarian José Alfredo, walking from Santo Domingo to Sisilar.

 

 

 

Left: The  Eucharist in Sisilar. Numerous confirmations as well as some baptisms were celebrated. This is a community that has recently made an alliance with us and is full of enthusiasm to work and commit itself to live and extend the mission that has been entrusted to us.

Right:  The celebration in Santo Domingo. A group of very carefully prepared young people received the sacrament of Confirmation. In the photo, the bishop is exhorting and interrogating the confirmands just before administer the Confirmation.

In La Mesilla, a few meters from the Mexican border, Monsignor Eduardo celebrated the Eucharist and blessed the ground on which a house of prayer will be built.

The community began only recently. Just the same, the faithful are full of enthusiasm and faith that the community may grow rapidly and that soon they may be able to construct a church building.

Above: View from the place was Eucharist was celebrated and the ground for the house of prayer was blessed. The houses are in the background are in Mexico. The border between Guatemala and Mexico in this area is marked only by some signs that are known as “monuments” because they have the form of Egyptian obelisks.

 

 

Right: The blessing of the lot where the house of prayer will be built.

On the morning of the twelfth, Solemnity of Our Lady of Guadalupe, our bishop celebrated a thanksgiving Eucharist in the Buena Vista Community of San Pedro Necta. This community is characterized by its organization, dynamism and powerful missionary spirit.

On the occasion of the visit, a large group of young people, diligently prepared, received the sacrament of Confirmation.

Above:  The Eucharist celebration.

 

 

 

 

Right: After the celebration, the young people who were confirmed posed with Monsignor Eduardo in front of the church’s altar.

During the afternoon of the twelfth, Monsignor Eduardo presided at the celebration of the Eucharist with the Community of Central San Pedro Necta. This community has not experienced sustained growth. Just the same, it is persevering in its commitment, and we are confident that soon the missionary commitment that they have accepted will bear abundant fruit.

During the Mass some confirmations were celebrated. The coordinator in this community is brother Lorenzo. Seminarian Yaider Jiménez has worked from time to time in this community, which is why several of the young people being confirmed asked him to be their sponsor.

Above: The Eucharistic celebration.

 

 

 

 

Right: Our bishop with the young people who were confirmed.

In the evening of December 12, the full rite of Christian initiation of a sister belonging to the Community of Segundo Carrizal in the departmental capital, Huehuete-nango. She used to belong to an evangelical church. A few days after the initiation she is to marry a member of ICERGUA. He, along with his parents and the catechists of the community carried out the formative instruction, which culminated with the celebration of the rite of initiation.

On the fifteenth and sixteenth of December, Monsignor Eduardo paid a visit to the families of the three seminarians from El Salvador. All three have finished their final year of formative instruction and in 2010 begin their supervised pastoral work with the hope of being ordained at the end of the 2010 school year. They are Marco Tulio Calderón de Izalco, Sonsonate, Pedro Martínez de La Loma de San Antonio, La Paz, and José Armando Hernández de Concepción Chalatenango.

Above:  The visit began in Izalco. Marco Tulio’s grandmother wanted to meet our bishop to make her confession and receive extreme unction and the Eucharist. In the photograph, Monsignor Eduardo is invoking the Holy Spirit to ask that by the anointing of oil the sister may be strong in her faith and in her body and can live her years with joy and fortitude.

Above and right:  The celebration of the Eucharist in Pedro’s home. Pedro’s father took advantage of the bishop’s visit to invite the neighbors to the celebration, so a large group participated in the celebration.

Left: The visit to Concepción Chalatenango.

 

Left to right: José Alfredo, Pedro, and José Armando.

Right:  The Eucharistic celebration in the home of José Armando’s family. Part of the celebration was the confirmation of two brothers who had been prepared by José Armando. José Armando’s mother is in the center in the front, and his father is just a little behind her.

For much of December 19, Monsignor Eduardo directed the annual retreat of the communion ministers of the communion of the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, Comalapa. It took place in the Chapel of the Hacienda Carmona.

In addition to the usual retreat it was also the preparation for the installation of twelve new ministers who had been prepared during the year by the team of communion ministers. For the first time, the group being prepared included two women and three young people.

Above: The Eucharistic celebration in the chapel.

 

 

 

Right: After the Mass, in front of the chapel.

With the attendance of some 4000 faithful our bishop participated in one of the posadas (resting places for the Holy Family journeying to Bethlehem) that took place in Comalapa. By tradition Comalapa has just one parish and the People of God participate in it with great enthusiasm. It is a means of combining popular religion with a powerful program of evangelism and formation.

Above.  The procession through one of the streets of San Juan Comalapa. At the right of our bishop is Father Rigoberto, Vice-General, and then comes Deacon Denis Obando.

 

 

 

Left:  The colonial church, beautifully lit, and the Christmas tree that was set up in the atrium. The photograph was taken when the posada returned.

On the twenty-third Monsignor Eduardo celebrated the Eucharist in San Juan Gascón, Antigua Guatemala, when he entered one of the homes of the posada.

Throughout the year there has been pastoral activity in San Juan Gascón. The community has been strengthening progressively.

Above and right:  the Eucharistic celebration on entering the posada.

On the Day of the Nativity, our bishop presided at the Eucharist in the Cathedral of Comalapa. The attendance of the faithful was massive. During the celebration twelve new communion ministers were installed.

Above:  Entrance for the celebration of the Mass. Left to right: seminarian José Hernández, Father Rigoberto Upún, Monsignor Eduardo, Deacon Denis Obando, and seminarian Mauricio Siriboy.

 

 

Left:  the Monsignor during the distribution of the communion. In the back is the beautiful nativity scene and the Christmas decorations that ornamented the Cathedral.

Right:  Having installed the communion ministers, our bishop gave them the signs and implements needed to fulfill their ministry.

On the afternoon of Christmas Day, Monsignor Eduardo celebrated the Eucharist with members of the Parish of the Anunciación “Apostolado Católico María.” The very active apostolate has more than 1500 members organized into cells.

Above and right: The Eucharistic celebration.

On the twenty-sixth, the Deanery of Nebaj and Chajul had its meeting. Representatives of the various communities in the church of Tu Manzano of Nebaj participated. One of the important decisions was, beginning with the next meeting of the deanery, there will be a meeting in Nebaj as well as in Chajul, so that more of the leaders can participate.

On December 26 Monsignor Eduardo visited for the first time the Community of Batzbacá, located in the center of Nebaj. It is a new community but already has many faithful members and is working with enthusiasm to consolidate its organization and outreach.

On the afternoon of the twenty-sixth, our bishop presided at the Eucharist in the Community of Salquilito Nabaj. During the celebration several couples were married and many children did their First Communion.

Above:  The couples expressing their matrimonial consent.

 

 

 

Right:  The bishop with those who did their First Communion in front of the church.

On the morning the December 27, the bishop made his first pastoral visit to the Community of Satriván, which is in the jurisdiction of Nebaj, but very close to the municipalities of Chajul, Barillas and Santa Eulalia. This community recently made an alliance with ICERGUA. It includes more than a hundred brothers and sisters who, full of enthusiasm, participated in the Eucharistic celebration.

Towards midday Monsignor Eduardo celebrated the Eucharist with the community of the finca La Perla de Chajul, el Quiché. During the Mass a good number of children made their First Communion.

Above and right:  During the celebration of the Eucharist and while the communion is being distributed to those who are doing their First Communion.

In the afternoon Monsignor Eduardo presided at the Eucharist in the Central parish of Chel. A multitude completely filled the church. During the celebration a couple contracted marriage and that was the reason why the participation was so great.

Above:  The community while awaiting the arrival of the couple to be married, in order to begin the Mass.

 

 

Right:  The celebration of matrimony.

On the twenty-eighth, in a heavy rain and walking a good distance on foot with rubber boots, our bishop celebrated the Eucharist with the Communities of Ilom and Tzotzil.  In Ilom several baptisms were  celebrated. In Tzotzil a group of well-prepared children made their First Communion.

Above and left:  The Mass in Ilom.

On arriving in Tzotzil some of the faithful had prepared souvenir packages for Monsignor Eduardo and seminarian José Alfredo. In the photograph at right, the sister who had woven a stole is placing it on the bishop.

Left:  Five sisters, who were making their First Communion on this day, participating in the Eucharist.

During the afternoon of the twenty-eighth, our bishop made his first pastoral visit to the Community of Quisis in the Municipality of San Juan Cotzal, El Quiché.  It is a community that began a short time ago. Just the same, its members are eager to commit themselves to evangelism and missionary activity.

At the end of the meeting of the Deanery a Eucharist was celebrated with the goal of installing two communion ministers and three ministers of the Word. In the photograph at right: the faithful while Monsignor Eduardo is exhorting them concerning the responsibilities of the ministry that is being entrusted to them.

With a huge, joyful participation, the Deanery of Central Quiché  was celebrated on December 29. Present were the faithful from Uspantán, Cunén and some representation from other municipalities where communities are progressively developing. Among the topics taken up was the decision to begin the construction of the offices of the Deanery in February. While the mission center is being built the presbyters and seminarians that serve these communities will have their residence here.

In the evening of the thirtieth, Monsignor Eduardo celebrated Eucharist in the Community of Tierra Caliente, Sacapulas, Quiché. On that occasion some children received the sacrament of Baptism.

Above:  The baptism of one of the children.

 

 

 

Right:  Distribution of the communion. The sisters who have already received communion are in deep prayer, giving thanks to the Lord for such an inestimable gift.

To end the year, on the afternoon of December 31, our bishop celebrated Eucharist with the Community of Mapá, San Sebastián, Huehuetenango. The faithful participated with great fervor. At the end of the Eucharist they shared in an agape feast to give thanks to the Lord for all the benefits received during the year.